Photo: GM COOKSON THE 53rd. Conference of the Womens TUC held in Scarborough last week gave its full backing to the Greenham Common givers of life' argued Terry Marsland of the Tobacco Workers Union 'It is up to us to protect that life. We must be determined to stand behind the peace movement and actively involve ourselves in it. This motion of support like most of the others at the conterence was bassed overwhelmingly. But was left to Helen John a founder member OI the peace camp, to explain at a fringe meeting before the debate what the Greenham women were calling on trade unionists to do on 24 the Womens Day for Disardar of luropean-wide protes volved Greenham who've never been involved in anything in their lives before' she said.
'We're not opposing men, we're positively discriminating in favour of women doing something for a change. An article in Sanity accuses of eperatism but its not trut We've always asked me to support us'.
On 24 May Helen urged women trade unionists CADICA support 'holding factory gate meetings, or calling for This be tremendous spur to the men unions to support the peace movement.
For two days the conference debated many other issues of concern to women TO DUSS unions were strongly urged to fight low pay and adopt peacable nature is not culturally determined, but shaped by their genes ne simple practical policy reducing world-wide violence peace women. 'We are the positive action programmes Inaustry by industry A report was promised on year's The sexist portrayal or women in the media was discussThe Tory government condemned for assault or Womens rans through the Rayner report on eligibility for benefits; its proposal to comply with criticisms of British equal pay legislation through an Order in Parliament that would result in the most cosmetic of changes, and the findings of the Tory 'think tank' on the family. were singled out for particularly strong censure.
Barbara Switzer, for AUEW TASS, arguing for the Advisory Committee play stronger campaigning role pointed out that the conference, representing three million unionists, was 'the most organised force for change in womens lives'. But her resolution wa. in such a way that instead ot being a clear mandate for giving a lead, it became another list of exhortaSOUTH tions.
Another important resolution calling for five motions go automatically to Congress was lost, possibly because no one organised to win support lot ll.
A resolution calling for technology and its effects on women to be given to the next TUC, was deferred for a year A clause in the low pay resolution condemning al forms of incomes policy was somewhat undermined by the statement from Ada Maddox of NALGO that this would have to be looked at in the light of th Assessment proposed b the TUC General Council And when the resolution did demand that the TUC go oeyona its. ex isting framework of passive opposition to the Tories could be sure that the Advisory would have reservalous o qualification ready at hand Framework A Day of Action for women trade unionists to 'encourage their participa scheduled for 23 July - a step forward, but there is a crying need to highlight problems tacing the mas of women, in particular unco ovcul The need for reform of the Women's TUC is ap parent. Like the Women's Labour Party conference it has no minutes recorded and this speaks volume for the importance attach ed to its decisions. Other problems include:
Followers • The chair rotated.
'reservations' Advisory very often the last word on the issue despite the fact that delegates have the right of reply. • There seems to be no procedure for reference back of a section of the Women's Advisory Com mittee report to the con ference. • ine Ad visory is elected by the but the pro ceaure acts In such a na that it is accountable to the General Council above al else The six seats reserved for women on the Genera Council are elected at the often include sen TUC have absolutely no recor of fighting on bena. women trade unionists The timetabling 10= motions is such that the full-time staff in the trade unions are the people "-. submit policy.
These big pro blems. But they do no mean we should favour abolishing the WTUC some on the left dic What we must do is fight for major reforms so the WTUC can really act or women unionists.